Blog by Melissa and David Sokulski, L.Acs.

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Friday, October 26, 2012

Autumn is here! In Chinese Medicine, the fall corresponds to the Metal Element (of the Five Element Cycle). The metal is the element of the Lungs and Large Intestine (paired organs.) The emotion is grief and letting go, the color is white.

Hen of the Woods/Maitake - a wild medicinal and edible mushroom found in the fall

It
is the time of year to harvest what we have sown (in the garden and
life), clean out the garden beds, tidy up. It is a wonderful time of
year to let go of things: that which is cluttering our space.

The change of seasons is a great time of year to come in for an acupuncture treatment or tune up.
Changing seasons often bring to the front any small imbalances we may
have going on...this time of year we may notice (all which may be
related to the metal element):

allergies

asthma

acne

sinus issues

constipation

sadness or depression

as well as other imbalances coming to the forefront:

difficulty sleeping

low energy

headaches, etc.

Sometimes
just coming in four or five times a year (at the change of seasons) is
all an otherwise healthy person needs to keep themselves on track and
functioning at their best.

If you'd like to come in for a treatment give us a call at (412) 381-0116. We'd also be happy to answer any questions for you. You can also email us at BirchCenter@gmail.com.

Tuesday, October 23, 2012

We're trying out a new feature here at Birch Center: Menu Monday, in which we post some menu ideas for the upcoming week. Based on fresh, seasonal (and sometimes wild) ingredients, there will also be some energetic explanation on the food choices based on Chinese medicine. Though it is hard to go wrong (energetically) when you are eating fresh, local foods!

nettles

This week we are incorporating foods from our garden:

kale

beets

arugula

from farmer's markets:

apples

squash/pumpkins (my favorite is delicata squash)

cabbage

broccoli

carrots

onions

potatoes

from the grocery store:

cucumbers

celery

chicken mushroom

from the wild:

nettles

chicken mushroom

burdock root

dandelion root

and from my pantry:

brown rice

beans, canned: black and kidney

red lentils

raw cashews

jar of Indian Curry (vegan)

tofu (refrigerated)

I like to start the day with fresh juice. Even though the season is getting colder and juice has a cold energy, it is detoxifying to the body and helps rid the body of excess (such excess weight, which can lead to excess heat which may show up as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, headaches, etc.)

Bean Chili with Chicken Mushroom (I dry sauteed the chicken mushroom earlier this fall, it is in my freezer) - the linked recipe uses fresh Hen of the Woods mushroom, I will just substitute the chicken mushroom

A couple rice dishes include:

Tofu, Brown Rice, kale, broccoli and onions, tossed with a jar of vegan Indian Curry (I picked this up at the supermarket)

Blend well in a high speed blender such as a vitamix. If you don't have a strong blender, soak the cashews first for at least 1/2 hour to soften. Then blend well. You shouldn't need to strain this milk because cashews are so soft and will blend entirely.

Sunday, October 21, 2012

We've been having fun tonight...creating fun products for Food Under Foot - aprons, t-shirts, sweatshirts, water bottles, journals, etc. We made a few designs: Mushroom Hunter with a picture of a morel, Eat Weeds and Thrive - one with a yellow dock seed heart and one with chicory flowers.

Then Dave had an idea: why not make something for the Birch Center?

My ideas were so boring...and then Dave came up with a winner: Getting Stuck in Pittsburgh, Birch Center for Acupuncture.

About Birch Center

Now at two locations! South Side and North Hills!

The Birch Center for Health, located on East Carson Street in Pittsburgh's historic South Side, and at St. Barnabas Health Center in Gibsonia, PA (North Hills), offers patients the best in acupuncture, complementary, and alternative health care.

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The information contained in this blog is for education only and is not meant to help diagnose, prescribe, or treat illness. You are welcome to contact us at The Birch Center, where we offer acupuncture, herbal medicine, and specific dietary and lifestyle consultations and recommendations based on your personal situation.

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